Chapter Two: Apparitions and First Impressions
The next morning, the two girls stumbled out of bed and got all their things ready for the trip to Hogwarts. Cassy and Erin had received special chests last night as parting gifts from Mrs. Loalia so they started to stuff all of their packages into each of theirs. They received a set of five keys to go with it, and when fitted into the same lock, the keys opened a different compartment each. The girls loved them because they saved a ton of space, and were great for organization, which the girls needed a lot of. Mrs. Loalia called them to breakfast after a while and they decided to finish later. They figured to change into their robes and uniform when they got to Hogwarts, so they took the next half hour after a breakfast of elvin cakes deciding what to wear. At nine-fifty, Mrs. Loalia knocked on the door to Erin's room and said,
"Girls? Are you ready? The Conductor is coming in ten minutes."
Erin and Cassy looked up at each other from Teen Witch in surprise. They had totally forgotten the time and were still in the pajamas! The next five minutes they spent throwing things in their trunk and on their bodies. They figured they could really tidy up their trunks at Hogwarts. Erin finally straggled out of the house followed by Cassy.
Cassy's unruly hair was let loose down her back in wavy curls, brown with bright orange highlights. She was wearing a bright red rugby three-quarters shirt, which she had read somewhere that they were popular in Britain. She also wore her favorite pair of faded flare jeans, worn in converses, and her best scarlet robes from her Quidditch team at CAWW. The hooded velvet robes had satin trim and the school mascot on the back, an outstretched raven with golden eyes.
Erin had on more modest attire, with dark capris and a loose flowing shirt with large bell sleeves, a trademark of modern elven fashion. She had dozens of silver bangles up her arms, and her ears were studded with rings. Her long midnight-black hair fell straight down her back. She also wore her scarlet Quidditch robes.
"Is he here yet, mom?" asked Erin as she dragged her trunk to the middle of the yard where her mother was standing.
"No, but he should be here any second now," she replied, looking up and down the street. Cassy noticed how much the mother and daughter resembled each other. Although Mrs. Loalia was almost a full head taller than her daughter, Erin was still half a head taller than Cassy. The two both shared dark looks and impassive facial expressions. Cassy was usually bright-eyed and rosy, being told that she looked strongly like her father.
Cassy pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and looked intently around for any sign of the Conductor. She glanced at her digital watch. It read 9:58. Cassy didn't know how traveling by Group Apparition would feel like, but she was hopping up and down on one leg in nervousness.
"Now you two, I want both of you to write me in the first week and tell me how schools going. I'm going to miss both of you, you know that?" Mrs. Loalia smoothed her lilac robes.
"Yeah, mom," replied Erin rolling her eyes. Cassy smiled.
"Really, Erin! I'm don't know what I'm going to do without a mess in the house to clean up because you spilled a bowl of potions or broke something with your broomsticks, or-"
"Mom!" Erin shouted, her pale cheeks going red. "We'll miss you too, right, Cassy?"
"Absolutely."
"And Cassy," Mrs. Loalia turned to her. Her soft features seemed to harden and block out the sky. "I want you to be extra careful, okay, honey?" Cassy fingered the buckle on the glove. "You're like my second daughter, I don't know what I'd do if something happened, so I need both of you to stay out of trouble, got it?"
The last part she said with force, and Erin turned on her.
"Mom! Drop it already! It wasn't her fault, so will you just lay off?"
"Erin Tigerlily Loalia." Mrs. Loalia turned slowly to face her daughter. Cassy could almost feel the air between her and Erin tighten and heat. Erin's face momentarily flashed regret.
Cassy wished instantly that the conversation hadn't turned to her accident. She wished for a diversion, anything to break up-
A silver flash and a strong wind suddenly knocked all of them off of their feet. They looked up in time to see a pudgy man in an ill-fitting blue uniform descend wobbily to the ground in the midst of it. He looked around for a second, then at the three lying on the ground. Then with a strong cogney accent he said:
"Oi! So sorry missus, that does 'appen when you stand too close!"
"How in Merlin's name were we supposed to know where to stand," muttered a shaken Mrs. Loalia as he helped her up. Fortunately he didn't hear. After he helped up the other two girls, he took out a spotted handkerchief and wiped his sweaty brow.
"Lessee, I was told two passengers to 'ogwarts."
"That's right," Cassy piped up, hoping to call off Erin from her mom.
"You two, then? Good, my name's Albert Longbottom, and I'll be yer conductor. Alright, got all yer bags?"
"Right here," said Erin, picking up her trunk.. Cassy picked up hers too.
"Tickets, too?" They both rummaged through their pockets and produced the golden lettered items.
"Spiffin, over 'er then." He pulled out a thick wand and held it high. "'ave you got everything you need in those trunks? Yes? Good, now I need both of you to 'old them tight and not let go. 'old yer wands out like this, and I need both of you to touch tips with mine."
The girls pulled out their wands from the holders on their belts. Cassy held up her thirteen inch ash with a phoenix tail feather inside. Erin pulled out her fourteen inch mahogany with a unicorn hair contained inside. All three of them stood separate from each other with wands ready.
"All set? Right then, 'old tight."
The pudgy little man then shut his eyes tight in concentration. Cassy looked over her shoulder at Mrs. Loalia, who was standing with her elegant arms folded. Cassy gave a weak smile. Erin was staring stone-faced straight ahead. Before Cassy had a chance to say anything, the Conductor shouted unexpectedly,
"TRANSPORTATE!"
The girls robes whipped around them as the strong wind began again. From the tips of the three's wands came a silvery curtain that descended around all of them. It slowly formed a sparkling globe around them, and the wind increased. Before Cassy could voice her concern about something not being right, they were slowly being lifted off the ground along with the globe. The Conductor still had his eyes squeezed shut in concentration. Squinting, Cassy glanced at Erin, who mouthed back, 'Sweet!'
Then, as suddenly as it began, the wind stopped. Cassy looked down and saw the world whizzing beneath them.
"Whoa," she said. She felt her knees go slack.
"Don't yeh worry little missy, yer safe," said the conductor, taking out his handkerchief with his free hand and wiping his forehead again.
"So this is what its like to Apparate, huh?"
"Not exactly, no. Yeh see, it takes a skilled wizard to even Apparate 'imself, and you git there almost instantly. But when it comes to Apparating not only 'imsllf, but other people too, well that takes a very skilled wizard with intense concentration."
Albert stood up proudly, showing off his shiny gold conductors badge.
"So, um, how long till we get there," asked Erin, looking nervously at the landscape blurring beneath.
"Prolly four or five mor' minutes, not long, considering we're over New York."
"Oh."
"So, can I arsk why two young lasses from Ohio is coming all the way to 'ogwarts?"
"Scholarships," Cassy quickly piped in, giving Erin a look to follow along. She didn't want any more 'conversations' why they were actually going to Hogwarts.
"Oh, 'onor students, aren't we now? Well, let me tell you now that 'ogwarts is one of the finest schools in the country, you'll get yer three R's out of this school, let me tell you. In fact, me own nephew goes there, he's in 'is fif year. Neville Longbottom's 'is name. 'Bout yer age, am I right?"
"Mmm hmm, we're fifth year students, too," replied Cassy, enjoying the look on Erin's face who was wondering how she could keep up the conversation.
"Well I'n't that just spiffin! If you get the chance, could you tell 'im 'is Uncle Albert said hi?"
"Of course, what house is he in?" Cassy could hear Erin snort. Erin thought it was hilarious that Cassy read up on Hogwarts during the summer. Erin figured that she could sponge most of the information of Cassy without sticking her nose in 'Hogwarts, A History.'
"'e's a Gryffindor, 'e is. Right proud of 'him for that, didn't think he could manage that. What 'ouse are you expected to be sorted into?"
"Ravenclaw, prolly, I-I mean, probably," Cassy blushed deeply. Albert chortled.
"And what 'ouse are you expecting?" he asked Erin.
"Oh, I don't know, probably Ravenclaw, too. Our old school's mascot was a raven." She turned and showed him the emblem on the back of her robes.
"Yea, that's right, American schools don't 'ave 'ouses, do they? Would yea mind explaining them to me?"
"Not at all," Cassy took over. "In America, there are lots more schools, about ten or eleven, so we have stronger rivalries between different schools, and not as much animosity in the schools. There were about three-hundred of us at our old school. We slept in dorms during the week, and on the weekends, we went home to our families since most of us lived so close."
"Well, I'll be. You're gonna be in fer a nice surprise when yeh get to 'ogwarts. Yeh stay all the way up till winter vacation."
"We can't wait," Cassy assured him.
"Well, we should be there by now, lessee, 'old tight," Albert said, squeezing his eyes closed again. Cassy held on tighter to her trunk.
The wind began again, and Cassy could see through her hair whipping around her face a large stretch of forest. They began their rapid descent through the trees. Abruptly, they stopped, and the wind died down. They were standing in the middle of the forest, with no end in sight.
"Um, is this the right place?" Cassy asked nervously, letting her sore arm hang at her side. Erin looked around with interest, being half wood elf.
"No, this definitely was not the destination point, I wanted 'ogwarts." His eyes lit up as he realized something.
"Wot else is in yer trunks?"
"They're magical, lots of different compartments," Cassy said.
"Just as I thought, I didn't add those into the calculations, those cause drag. Now, if I figure out where we are, I can get you right quick to 'ogwarts. Hmmm," Albert rubbed his fat chin and looked around in thought.
"Hogwarts is right over there," Erin pointed off in the forest.
"ow do you know that, little missy?"
"Natural instincts," she replied, flicking hair over her pointed ear.
"Ohhhh," he said, noticing. "Well, come on, I've got to be in Dublin in five minutes." He glanced at his watch and pulled out his wand again.
"Oh, that's alright, if you need to be somewhere soon we could just fly over." Cassy said.
"Fly? If you could fly, you wouldn't need me ten minutes ago now would you?" He stared smartily at Cassy.
"I mean fly by broomsticks," Cassy said with a little smile. His face appeared blank for a moment, and then recovered.
"Oh, right! Should 'ave know!" He chuckled and his whole body jiggled. "Well, if its all right with you two, I'll just get along my way now. Don't want to be late!"
Erin rolled her eyes, impatient.
"Be careful, now, and good day! TRANSPORTATE!"
In a flurry of loose leaves and other debris, he rose in the silver bubble and departed.
Both girls looked and each other for a moment. Then they burst out laughing.
"I've never heard anyone talk so weird!" Erin gasped out.
"You're telling me! I thought I would die when I said prolly!"
"That was so funny!"
"And the way he laughed!"
"Like Santa!"
The girls collapsed into giggles again, doubled over. When they recovered again, Erin said more seriously,
"Um, back there, with my mom and all, sorry about that. She's just been so weird ever since dad left."
"I understand, I hope you won't get into too much trouble."
"Nah, she'll 'prolly' forget about it."
The girls giggled again. Cassy pulled out a parchment letter.
"Well, it says here on our letter that we have a meeting at four with Professor McGonagall in Hogsmeade, and we need to be waiting at the train station by five-thirty. So that means we have all afternoon to look around!"
"Hogsmeade is the village near the school, right?"
"Yup." Cassy began to unlock separate compartments, looking for her broom.
"Do you think they have a mall?"
Cassy looked up skeptically as she pulled out her Aurora 3.2.
"Just kidding. I wonder what they have to eat?"
"I don't know, 'Hogwarts, A History' didn't mention any of the shops, just that Hogsmeade is one of the largest wizarding settlements in Britain."
"Oh, fine. Lets get going, then."
The two young witches strapped their trunks on the back of their brooms and lifted off. Erin directed Cassy to the crest of a hill on her Spirit 3.1. When they had passed it, they were given their first sight of Hogwarts. Erin almost fell off her broom.
"We're going to be living in that!"
Hogwarts was a huge stone castle on the edge of a gigantic cliff, with many buttresses and towers, all of them reaching for the sky. A large lake stood between them and the castle, and they could see a Quidditch field farther back.
"Wow," the awestruck girls said in unison. Erin said,
"It looks friggan' midieval, wait till the guys back home see this! Oh, lets get a picture!"
Cassy rummaged through her trunk, balancing carefully on the broom, while still moving forward. She pulled out her wizard camera, put it on a levitating tripod, and set the timed flash. She whizzed back to Erin and said, "Make sure you can see the castle."
They girls posed in midair as the camera flashed.
"Oh, this is going to be awesome!"
Cassy collected up her camera and they kept moving forward. They began passing over the lake and started zigzagging over the water.
"Wow, I haven't flown this freely since we took arial gymnastics in our third year!"
Cassy ran her hand across the glassy surface of the lake. She said,
"Let's drop our trunks on the other side and fly around some more. I haven't flown since Quidditch last year."
"Yeah, that's right, you living with those muggles probably didn't help much. You should have come over to my house."
"You're right. I was a bit, um, preoccupied, though."
"Right. Sorry."
"Forget it."
The girls finally reached the other side and untied the strings holding their trunks on. They put them by each other and then hopped back on their brooms.
"Race you to the other side!"
"Bring it!" Erin said and took off.
"Hey!" Cassy started after her.
It felt good to be so free in the air, it had been a while since her last ride. She pushed forward and felt the wind spray the lake water up in her face as she dipped down. Erin was still in front of her, but just above her. Erin looked around, but didn't spot Cassy. Cassy took her chance and popped up in front of Erin while she was turned around.
"Gotcha now!" Cassy laughed at the look on Erin's face as she finally spotted her.
"You bum! That's not fair!" Erin shouted playfully. She caught up until they were neck and neck, racing toward the other side creating a ton of spray in their wake. They thought they were going to end in a draw, but before they had a chance to reach the other side, something huge erupted from the lake's surface in front of them.
"Pull up!" Cassy screamed. The girls turned up the noses of their brooms and flew vertically until they thought they were safe and looked back down. The lake was in absolute turmoil. Erin dipped a little and said,
"What the flip?"
Cassy looked closer, and then smiled.
"It's the giant squid," she laughed.
They both saw the tentacles waving above the water clearly now. They both started laughing in relief. The squid pulled slowly back under the water. They thought about coming down closer, when one tentacle emerged. The girls stopped warily. The tentacle waggled around a bit before sinking beneath the surface again.
"What was that last part about?" Erin asked, not daring to go any lower now.
"I, I think it was waving to us," Cassy replied.
"Oh, goody, our first new friend the squid," Erin laughed. Then she stopped and said, "Do you know who won?"
Cassy looked down and saw they had both passed the finish line.
"Nope, let's call it a draw," she said, starting back toward Hogwarts. She thought of something and said,
"Hey, do you remember any of our routines from ariel gymnastics?"
"Kind of. Lemme see."
Erin skillfully stood up on the broom and attempted to do a hand stand. Cassy clapped as she started to lift one hand, but then Erin's robes fell in front of her face. Erin squealed and lost her balance. She brought her other hand up and swung around as if the broom were a trapeze. She landed side saddle and swung her other leg over. Her knuckles were white as she gripped the broom.
"Yes. I definitely remember the routine now." Erin said firmly with an ashen face.
Cassy laughed. "My turn."
Cassy jumped up on her Aurora and spread her arms for balance. She took one cautious step forward, making sure she could pull this off while still moving forward. She gulped a deep breath of air, and pushed off with her feet. She did a perfect back flip in the air, landing with both feet on the handle. Erin clapped and whistled uproariously. Cassy let out her breath and made a modest bow. She plopped back down on the handle.
"Okay, I'm definitely done with that for the day." She was shaking all over.
"Merlin, look Cassy!" Erin swooped closer and pointed out three figures standing by their trunks.
"Oh my gosh, how long have they been watching us?" Cassy smoothed her hair down and tried to look presentable for the first people they met at Hogwarts.
"I don't know, I just saw them, do you think we're in trouble? What about the squid?" Erin nervously tugged her ear.
"No, it can't be, wait," Cassy squinted, trying to get a better look. She let out a breath. "They're students."
"Even better, they're guys," Erin's eyes lit up. Cassy turned to her with a mischievous look.
"Do you remember any of the landings?"
"I think so, what do you mean, do you-" She cut herself off and said, "Flirt!"
Cassy giggled.
"Front flip with a twist, okay? Land right over their heads!"
"I got it," Erin said with determination. They both started to speed up. Cassy noticed that two of the boys were larger than the one in the middle, and figured they were probably older.
"I've got dibs on the one in the middle," said Cassy.
"Shut up, I'm concentrating," Erin gritted through her teeth. She definitely did not want to mess this trick up.
The girls reached the shore at a dizzying speed. A second later, they ruffled the boy's hair with their slipstream and moments later they leaped off their brooms, somersaulted with a half twist and landed neatly in unison, side by side on their feet. Their brooms split apart from each other and flew silently back to their owners.
Clapping was heard from behind them, and Cassy whispered, "Bow" before turning and doing so. Cassy jumped sidesaddle onto the handle and Erin followed her back to the boys. They stopped a few feet in front of them and secretly winked at each other before they hopped off. The smaller boy in the middle said;
"Very well done, although I've never seen anything like it."
Cassy noticed instantly his refined British accent, different from both Mrs. Loalia and Albert. He was short, about Cassy's height, which wasn't saying much. Cassy had to suppress her giggles when she noticed his hair, a shockingly brilliant shade of pale gold, which was slicked back on his head. He otherwise looked kind of cute, with baggy jeans and a dark pullover under forest green robes.
"Thanks, we practice often."
Cassy loved the way his eyebrows shot up when he noticed her lack of an accent. Erin smiled smugly.
"You're from America?"
"Yeah, we're transfer students in our fifth year."
Cassy and Erin both wondered what he was thinking when he didn't say anything. Then he smiled and held out his left hand. He said;
"My name's Malfoy. Draco Malfoy. I'm a fifth year also, in the Slytherin house."
Cassy remembered instantly that Slytherins weren't the most friendly people in Hogwarts, and by far the most untrustworthy. She almost had to gag herself to keep from reacting to his name, too. She stepped forward to shake his hand and almost pulled back when she realized she needed to use her gloved hand.
They shook hands. She hoped he wouldn't notice.
But he did.
For some strange reason, he jerked back his hand back before she let go. He stared at it strangely, and then hid it under his robes. Cassy did the same with hers. He offered his right hand to Erin, who shook his with slight distaste.
Cassy tried to cover by saying;
"My name's Cassy Kibbons, and…"
"Erin Loalia." Erin smiled slightly, who appeared rude if you didn't know she was shy.
"Um," Cassy peered around Draco's shoulder. She still noticed the two larger boys him who hadn't said anything. She hoped she didn't seem rude, not knowing any customs of Britain.
"Oh, Crabb and Goyle." Draco simply said without any intentions of going on.
Cassy nodded.
"So, you've just got here, right?" Draco nodded his head at their bags.
"Yes, and we don't really know our way around yet."
"I'd be pleased to show you around."
"We were heading to Hogsmeade, we wouldn't want to bother you or anything."
"Oh, that's fine, I was headed there anyway."
Cassy looked at Erin. "Wanna go?" She asked her.
"Fine by me," she said shortly.
"Great."
Draco offered his arm and she took it.
"Crabb, Golye, bags." Both boys obediently picked up Cassy and Erin's trunks. Cassy marveled.
As they started across the long field in front of Hogwarts, and Cassy looked back at Erin. She gave her a sympathetic look and made signs to get on the other side of her. Erin rolled her eyes and caught up, not wanting to be left behind with Crabb or Goyle.
{a/n: Whew! That was a long chapter. I hope you're wondering what happens next, lots of suspense left there. ^_^ I would love to get some more reviews, thanx Grey Malfoy for yours! In my next ch, I'm gonna need some help creating a couple new charas, so anybody with suggestions are welcome to review! I wanna give a BIG THANX for all the time that miss ewe (cute name!) spent on her review! Although… *ahem* my eyes were opened a bit wider than I'd hoped to the perspective of her ideas on the world of Harry Potter… (*cough* understatement!) For miss ewe and all other readers, I'm gonna clear some things up so there is less confusion. Point: Please note that I categorized Avada Flammarum under 'suspense.' The suspense is obviously killing you! Point: Writing to me is like my vent. All the emotions, thoughts, feelings, ideas, words, and expressions get poured out my fingertips. My fanfic is what I like to write about. No one else tells me how to write. Point: 'Overused?' Is Harry Potter 'overused' just because it's popular and unique? Point: You must not have read the fanfic very thoroughly, you've made some mistaken assumptions. She's known all her life she is a witch; she's been brought up by both muggles and wizards; her parents DIED; the floo network was temporary; Cassy is not an elf, Erin is half-elven; how do you know they tried to kill her? Point: Thanx for the statistics on American wizardry. I'll mull it over. But where does Rowling ever mention American schools? Or is it some sort of unwritten law that I've never come across? Point: In my fanfic, Voldemort visits America. End of sentence. Point: Sorry about your Mary-Sue thing. Whatever you're talking about. Point: I have a lot of friends. Cassy has a lot of friends. Cho… must know you personally to tell you how many friends she has. Point: What have you got against elves? I gonna allow myself a good laugh when they pop up in Rowling's 5th, 6th, or 7th books. Poor Dobby. Better pack him up and ship him out to middle earth ASAP! ^_^ Point: My bad about the English accent thing! But would the sentence have sounded the same if she said "We'll be the only one's with out English or Irish or Scottish accents!" No, I didn't think so. Point: I happen to like the word unique. Thanx and have a nice day! ^_^
BTW, chapter three should be up soon!
Mommantai, ~BM}